Burson Conductor & Soloist Headphone Amps Make Stellar Debut

Burson’s new Stellar Series comprises the Conductor and Soloist, with the range designed to sit between the company’s entry-level Party Playmate 3 and the Grand Tourer lines.

Australia’s Burson Audio has focused on Class A amplification for its Stellar series of compact desktop components (210 × 200 × 75 mm (8.3 × 7.9 × 2.9-inches)). Furthermore, it includes a dedicated ultra-low-noise amplification stage that reveals “exceptional micro-detail and realism,” especially with sensitive IEMs.

Currently consisting of the Conductor and Soloist, the Stellar range is built to power a wide range of headphones, from in-ear monitors to more demanding planar magnetic models.

Headphone connection options include 8W balanced and 3W single-ended, alongside 1W balanced and 5000mW single-ended for IEMs.

The Conductor Stellar functions as a DAC, a Class A headphone amp, and a desktop preamplifier, whereas the Soloist Stellar is an analogue headphone amplifier and preamp.

Both models boast 8 watts of Class A power, aiming for “outstanding resolution, dynamic contrast, and clarity.” Each channel uses four Onsemi MJE15032 transistors, optimised for high Class-A bias, to highlight the “control and musicality” of Burson’s signature sound.

The Conductor Stellar adds an ESS9039PRO DAC chip to its feature set for “exceptional resolution and dynamic range.” It supports PCM files up to 32-bit/768kHz and native DSD512. Wireless connectivity is provided by Bluetooth 5.0, supporting high-quality LDAC and aptX HD codecs for streaming up to 24-bit/96kHz.

Additionally, the Conductor offers balanced XLR and RCA inputs, a USB-C port, 6.35mm and 3.5mm outputs, and XLR and RCA outputs, plus a subwoofer out.

We’re told that, while it offers 24 filters and path settings, each one has been carefully selected to match the analogue output stage, resulting in a sound that’s “effortlessly natural and dynamic”.

Meanwhile, the Soloist Stellar (above) offers independent channel-balance controls for headphones and speakers to adjust for room differences and natural hearing variations. It includes balanced XLR, 6.35mm, and 3.5mm headphone ports, along with XLR and RCA outputs and a subwoofer out.

Both new Burson Stellar models are available now, with the Conductor Stellar priced £2,000 | US$1,800 | €1,900 | AU$2,800 and the Soloist Stellar costing £1,700 | US$1,500 | €1,600 | AU$2,600.

For more information visit Burson Audio